Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Spring for me is about getting outside and enjoying the
burst of plant life, using as many senses as I can manage simultaneously until
I’m blissfully delirious.

I’m thrilled to let you in on one of my recent discoveries—if
you pass through one of the secret gates of spring, you’ll experience heightened
fragrances, more vivid blossoms, and an awareness of the most subtle nuances of
changes in tender green shoots. My jasmine vine, threatening to take over the
entire front of our house, smells especially wonderful this year…after I
stumbled upon this gate.

Keep in mind, the special gates aren’t easy to spot. I
overlooked this one at least a dozen times before I recognized it. A friend had
told me about these legendary gates, but I didn’t believe her since I’d never
seen one before. I approached this gate with some disbelief since it seemed to
lead to nowhere in particular, but as soon as my hand grazed the metal frame,
whiffs of sweet essence caught my nose. Passing through, a chorus of tinkling
bells from the field of white wildflowers greeted me. My friend had been right…I
unlocked a passageway into spring.

I hope you find a gate in your area—it takes a keen eye!

Tea Leaf Tales is a series of original ten-sentence short stories by
Marsha A. Moore, relating to photos/scenes that resonate with her.